If you or someone you know has an infant, and would be willing to participate in the study, contact your Portage Health Pediatrician at (906) 483-1700, or Minerick at (906) 487-2796 or minerick@mtu.edu.

Thursday night the Portage Health Hospice staff recognized its Hospice Volunteer of the Year, awarded two volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and recognized 32 hospice volunteers during their annual appreciation dinner.

Hospice Volunteer of the Year Delores Kotajarvi accepts her award as the 2013 Hospice Volunteer of the Year. Kotajarvi volunteer more than 300 hours in the past year, and was also recognized with the Bronze Level President's Volunteer Service Award.

“We’re extremely grateful for everything our volunteers do,” said Marianne Berghefer, Portage Health Hospice Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator. “Tonight is all about thanking these volunteers and recognizing the work they do for our hospice patients and their families.”

Portage Health Hospice volunteer Delores Kotajarvi was named the Portage Health Hospice Volunteer of the Year because of her dedication to her patients. She also received the Bronze Level President’s Volunteer Service Award for volunteering more than 300 hours.

“Delores connects so well with our patients,” Berghefer said, “Her service has been invaluable to Portage Health Hospice. She is an inspiration to her fellow hospice volunteers.”

Kristen Gabby was also recognized Thursday with the Bronze President’s Volunteer Service Award for her 250 hours of volunteer work. In total, Portage Health Hospice volunteers have given more than 1,000 hours of service during the past year.

“Each and every one of them does amazing things,” Berghefer said. “We want to thank them and all of the volunteers in our community that make the Copper Country such a wonderful place to call home.”

“Our focus has always been, and will continue to be, on quality,” said Jim Bogan, president/CEO of the hospital. “The ACS recognizes this, and has once again validated our efforts to provide the highest quality healthcare possible.”

The re-verification comes from the ACS’s committee on trauma, and is meant to recognize the trauma center’s dedication to providing optimal care for injured patients. All ACS verified trauma centers complete an on-site review by an experienced team who use the latest ACS guidelines.

“This isn’t something we have to do, this is something we choose to do” Bogan said. “This proves to ourselves, and our patients that we’re providing top-level care.”

There are a total of 32 trauma centers in Michigan recognized by the ACS, which includes three levels. Marquette General (Level II) is the only other verified U.P. hospital.

“We spend a lot of time making sure everything we do will help us provide optimal care for our patients,” said Vicki Peterson, unit manager of the emergency department. “The guidelines are strict, and everyone in our department, along with every member of our trauma team is proud to see that we continue to be recognized by the ACS.”

The trauma center was originally verified on Jan. 7, 2007. At the time, it was the only verified Level III Trauma Center in the state. The ACS verification is for three years. Portage Health has now been verified three times, 2007, 2010, 2013. Learn more about the verification process and see a full list of verified hospitals nationwide at facs.org/trauma.

Portage Health’s commitment to excellence was recognized with an “A” in the latest Hospital Safety Score grading by The Leapfrog Group.

“Receiving the highest grade possible from a credible and neutral source is tremendously rewarding for us,” said Jim Bogan, president/CEO of Portage Health. “Our staff is committed to providing the best possible experience for our patients, and ratings like this validate our efforts.”

The “A” ranking was awarded to 37 Michigan hospitals, including two others in the Upper Peninsula.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent not-for-profit organization focused on improving safety, quality and affordability of healthcare in the United States by promoting transparency and value-based hospital incentives.

HANCOCK – The Guilded Rose Gift Shop, located in the Portage Health lobby, donated $40,000 to the Portage Hospital Auxiliary in 2012.

Ronda Bogan (left) presents a check for $40,000 to Portage Hospital Auxiliary President Barbara Worral. The donation is from the Guilded Rose Gift Shop, which has donated more than $400,000 to the auxiliary since 1998.

“This money is used to improve services for our community,” said Ronda Bogan, who manages the gift shop while serving on the Portage Hospital Auxiliary. “Since 1998, we’ve donated more than $400,000, which allows Portage Health to continue to grow, funding things that the hospital usually wouldn’t be able to do.”

Recently, auxiliary funding has gone to remodeling the Infusion Center, purchasing Stryker beds for the emergency department and new radiation equipment for mammograms.

“We’re focused on bettering our community,” said Bogan.

On Wednesday, Bogan presented a check for $15,000 for the auxiliary. This is the final gift for 2012. $25,000 was donated in September. The gift shop is a non-profit organization with no paid employees. Volunteers staff all shifts, including a Saturday shift from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that was added this year.

The award recognizes the hospital’s improved provider-recruitment strategy. The strategy has increased the number of new medical-provider hires by an average of eight per year, while reducing expenses by more than $90,000 annually and all but eliminating the need to hire outside recruitment firms.

“Recruitment of well-trained, highly qualified medical providers is vital to Portage Health’s ability to provide the excellent level of care we offer,” said Kevin Store, director of marketing and communications. “This award is a testament to the hard work of many people at Portage Health and recognizes the quality and innovation that truly is at our core.”

The Michigan Health Council’s criteria evaluates and recognizes innovative, successful strategies used by a health care organization to recruit health professionals to meet patient-care needs. Programs receiving awards must be replicable and cost effective. In order for Portage Health to have success, the organization launched three key initiatives: 1. hired a full-time medical-staff recruiter; 2. executed a thorough community needs assessment; 3) expanded clinical rotations for medical students.